Grave marker



Sept. 3, 1935. E 2,013,377

GRAVE MARKER Filed Dec. 10, 1934 Hanna, 7? Deb-5 nag M Patented Sept. 3, 1935 UNi'iEfi STATES PATENT OFFICE GRAVE MARKER Application December 10, 1934, Serial No. 756,878

6 Claims.

This invention relates to grave markers and has for its object to provide a comparatively simple and inexpensive device of this character for identifying the graves of departed ones interred in a cemetery or other private or public burial ground.

A further object of the invention is to provide a grave marker having means for displaying thereon the name, age, dates of birth and death of the deceased, together with suitable indicia descriptive of his or her lifes history, so as to form a permanent visible record or memorial for relatives and friends visiting the cemetery.

A further object is to provide a grave marker including a substantially pyramidal shaped support adapted to receivea correspondingly shaped record bearing cover or jacket, the latter being housed within a hermetically sealed transparent protecting case so as to render the record visible at all times and protect the same from the deleterious action of the elements.

A further object is to provide means disposed at the apex of the support for cushioning the transparent protective casing and means disposed within the support for receiving and preserving mementos and other articles belonging to the deceased.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and eificiency.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a grave provided with an identifying device or marker constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the different elements constituting the marker separated and in position to be assembled.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the grave marker after the parts thereof have been assembled.

The improved grave marker forming the subject matter of the present invention comprises a base 5 preferably rectangular in shape and formed of cement, terra cotta, or other suitable material, said base being provided with a fiat lower surface adapted to rest on the ground at the head or foot of a grave, as best shown in Figure l of the drawing.

Formed in the upper surface of the base 5 is a rectangular seating recess 6, the outer Wall of which is cut away or rabbeted at 1 to form an auxiliary seating recess indicated at 8. Extending vertically from the base is a hollow upright or support 9 preferably pyramidal in shape and also preferably formed of suitable vitreous material, the lower edge of the support 1 being fitted within the seating recess 6 and firmly secured to the base by means of cement or other adhesive material lfl.

Fitted over the support 9 is an inner cover or jacket I! preferably formed of paper, cardboard or the like, and having printed or otherwise impressed on one or more faces thereof, suitable indicia descriptive of the name, age, dates of birth and death of the deceased, and a short synopsis of his or her lifes history so as to constitute a permanent visible record or memorial for relatives or friends when visiting the cemetery. Fitted over the inner cover or jacket I I is an outer cover or casing I2 formed of glass or other transparent or translucent material and which serves to house and protect the inner cover, together with the indicia thereon. The outer cover is also pyramidal in shape so as to entirely cover the support and inner cover, and the lower edge of said outer cover fits within the rabbet 8 and is hermetically sealed at l3, so as to prevent the entrance of moisture or Water. Disposed at the apex of the support 9 is a yieldable pad l4 formed of rubber, felt or the like, and on which the inner cover or jacket I I rests, the lower edge of the pad It being dovetailed in the support, as indicated at l5. If desired, the pad l4 may be omitted and the inner cover allowed to rest directly on the apex of the support.

As the support is hollow, an inner chamber or compartment I6 is provided which may be used to good advantage, if desired, for receiving and preserving mementos and other articles belonging to the deceased.

The transparent outer cover or casing l2 fits snugly over the pyramidal support 9 and bears against and holds the inner cover smooth and taut at all times so that the indicia thereon will be readily visible and legible through the outer cover to friends and relatives visiting the cemetery and thus enable them to quickly identify the grave of any particular loved one.

The device is exceedingly simple in construction and may be manufactured and sold at a minimum cost. It will, of course, be understood that the grave markers may be made in difierent sizes and shapes and constructed of any suitable material without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. A grave marker including a substantially pyramidal shaped support, a correspondingly shaped inner indicia-bearing cover telescoping the support, and a transparent outer cover housing the inner cover and through which the indicia is visible.

2. A grave marker including a base, a substantially pyramidal shaped support resting on the base, a correspondingly shaped inner indiciabearing cover telescoping the support, a transparent outer cover housing the inner cover and through which the indicia is visible, and a yieldable pad disposed at the apex of the support and on which the inner cover rests.

3. A grave marker including a base having a seating recess formed therein and provided with a rabbet communicating with said recess, a support fitted in the seating recess, an inner indiciamernber bearing against the support, and sp'arent cover fitting over the support and r ng against the indicia bearing member and ing its, lower edge resting within the rabbet.

A grave marker including a base having a 1 mg recess formed in the upper face thereof and provided with a rabbeted edge communicating said recess, a support having its lower edge within the seating recess, said support below to form an interior chamber, an inner infdi -bearing cover fitting snugly over the supft "and an outer transparent cover telescoping gt he inn'er cover and through which the indicia thereon is visible, the lower edge of the outer cover being seated in the rabbet and hermetically sealed.

5. A grave marker including a flat base having an angular seating recess in the upper surface thereof, a tapered support having its lower edge resting in said recess and its apex provided with a transverse seating recess, a yieldable pad resting on the apex of the support and having a portion fitting in the seating recess, an inner indiciabearing cover entirely surrounding the support and bearing against the upper surface of the pad, and an outer transparent cover fitting over the inner cover and through which the indicia is visible, the lower edge of the outer cover being hermetically sealed to the base.

6. A grave marker including a base having a flat lower. surface and provided in its upper surface with an angular seating recess the outer wall of which is rabbeted and spaced inwardly from the marginal edge of thelbase to form a circumferential flange, a hollow substantially pyramidal shaped support having its lower edge fitted in the recess, a pyramidal shaped inner indicia-bearing cover telescoping and snugly fitting the support, and an outer transparent cover fitting over the inner cover and pressingv the inner cover against the support so as to render the indicia on the inner cover visible through the outer cover, the lower edge of the outer cover being seated in the rabbet in spaced relation to the marginal edge of the flange of the base andherr'netically sealed to the base. I p n HANNA T. DEBS LL, 5.] 

